What happens if I lie to police?
The reason you should avoid lying to police is the same reason you should avoid talking to police. (See "If I'm innocent, should I talk to police?")
Whether or not you have information that could incriminate you or others, you should resist the urge to try to talk yourself out of a situation and try to remain silent instead. Police may not hold your silence against you as evidence of guilt.
Police are generally good at detecting lies, and getting caught in a lie may give an officer more justification to detain you. Regardless, if police are questioning you, you are probably considered a suspect and -- depending upon the situation -- you should be prepared to assert your rights by a) refusing search requests ("Officer, I don't consent to any searches."), b) determining if you are free to go ("Officer, am I free to go?"), and c) remaining silent until you see a lawyer ("I'm going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer.").
Clip from the DVD, BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters
